Diplomats Close to Clinching Iran Nuclear DealDan De Luce / Foreign PolicyNegotiators from Iran and six world powers appear close to securing a landmark agreement with Iran that would impose limits on the country’s nuclear program in return for relief from economic sanctions.

China and Russia Lay Foundation for Massive Economic CooperationReid Standish / Foreign PolicyIn the past decade, Beijing and Moscow have been more competitors than partners. But that relationship may now be changing as Russian and Chinese leaders are considering combining their two countries’ regional economic projects — the Eurasian Economic Union and the Silk Road Economic Belt, respectively.

National Security & Strategy

U.S. Wants Drones in North Africa to Combat Islamic State in LibyaAdam Entous and Gordon Lubold / WSJ
The U.S. is in talks with North African countries about positioning drones at a base on their soil to ramp up surveillance of Islamic State in Libya in what would be the most significant expansion of the campaign against the extremist group in the region.

Feds Get Aggressive on Terror ThreatsJulian Hattem / The HillLaw enforcement officials are taking a more aggressive stance against suspected would-be terrorists, with the rise of “lone wolves” spurring a change in mentality.Federal officials say a string of recent arrests is a sign of the need to be constantly on guard for plots against the nation that are inspired — but not orchestrated — by the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq (ISIS).

BBC
Islamic State militants have said they were behind a deadly explosion that severely damaged the Italian consulate in Egypt’s capital, Cairo. At least one person died and several people were injured when a car bomb went off at the building.

Climate Security

States consider defying Obama climate ruleTimothy Cama / The Hill
Governors of some conservative states are threatening to disregard President Obama’s signature climate rule for power plants, potentially creating a showdown with the federal government.

Nuclear Plant Closing Reflects Overhaul of German Energy ProductionMelissa Eddy / NY Times
The shutdown is a milestone in the country’s push to establish a nuclear-free energy system by 2022. The plant became the first active reactor to be decommissioned since 2011, following Chancellor Angela Merkel’s about-face on nuclear power after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant catastrophe in Japan.

Oil Production Shows Signs of FlaggingNicole Friedman / WSJ
The U.S. and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries have flooded the world with crude oil, sending prices tumbling. But the abundance has overshadowed declining production in areas—from Colombia to Norway to northern China—that experts consider vital to long-term supply growth.

Nuclear Security

Russia To Continue Tests On Nuclear-Capable Iskander Short-Range Ballistic Missiles Near UkraineChristopher Harress / International Business TimesA Russian military unit will be testing the Iskander ballistic missile near the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea this month, the press service of the southern region of Krasnodar said Monday. The tests, which are in range of many Eastern European countries further ratchet up the tension that has been escalating between U.S.-led NATO and Russia since Moscow annexed Crimea 16 months ago and got involved in the eastern Ukraine conflict.

On Our Flashpoint Blog

Hearing on Department of Homeland Security and Climate ChangeAndrew HollandOn Wednesday, July 8, 2015, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency of the House Committee on Homeland Security will hold a hearing on how the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is addressing the threats of climate change.

The DHS Response to Climate ChangeClark DerringtonOn July 8th, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency of the House Committee on Homeland Security held a hearing about the Department of Homeland Security’s response to the growing threat of climate change. Subcommittee Chairman Scott Perry (R-PA) called the hearing to examine DHS’s “misplaced focus” on climate change, and asked questions of two panels of witnesses.

Appropriators Should Support the Green Climate FundAmerican Security ProjectIn a world already facing many threats, militaries around the world have recognized a new one: climate change. In order to fight this new threat, as the Appropriations Committee considers the Fiscal Year 2016 State and Foreign Operations appropriations bill, it is important that the Senate supports the $500 million for the Green Climate Fund (GCF) that was requested in President Obama’s budget. Although the subcommittee’s legislation did not include funding for the GCF, Senators should consider an amendment that would fund the new institution.

ASP Recently Added

Perspective – Energy and Geopolitics in the Eastern MediterraneanAmerican Security ProjectSince 2009, there have been a succession of substantial natural gas finds in the Levantine Basin, under the Mediterranean Sea between Israel and Cyprus. How to regulate, tax, and export the gas continues to be controversial in Israeli politics. However, the strategic benefits of using energy resources to more closely tie Israel with its long-hostile neighbors are too compelling to ignore. This report analyzes the risks and opportunities involved in such an endeavor.

American Security ProjectLatin America and the Caribbean are critical regions for U.S. security, but the lack of open communication between the U.S. and Cuba weakens America’s ability to operate in these areas. Open dialogue with Cuba will help the U.S. maintain security, and could also bring potential economic opportunities.